Improvement in sponge-cups



UNITED STATES SE'IH O. OATLIN, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

IMPROVEMENT IN SPONGE-CUPS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 121,233, dated November 28, 1871.

To all uhom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SETH G. CATLIN, of Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and Improved Sponge-Cup and Pen-Holder; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and complete description thereof, reference bei ing had to the accompanying drawing making part of the same.

Figure l is a side view of the sponge-cup and pen-holder. Fig. 2 is a top View. Fig. 3 is avertical transverse section.

Like letters of reference denote like parts in the diierent views.

fThe nature of this invention relates to a device for holding pens; and the object thereof is to provide a neat and convenient stand in which to place the pen when not in use, and at the same time to have the pen immersed in water in order to prevent the ink from drying therein, so that said pen shall be at all times clean and ready for use; and the' invention also has for its object the convenience of a wet sponge on which to clean the pen.

A more full and complete description of the pen-holder and sponge-cup is as follows:

In the drawing, Fig. 1, A represents the penholder, and which consists in part of a circular glass cup or stand, having arranged around, on

.the in side thereof', a series of vertical semicircular chambers or niches, B, open at the top, and eX- tending down to the :door of the inside, as shown in Fig. 3. C, Fig. 2, is a lining' or curb, consisting of metal or other suitable material, extending from the top to the floor of the stand, which, however, may reach but part way and rest upon a4 ledge or shoulder, in the lower edge of which is cut a series of openings, a, Fig. 3, which may or not correspond in number to the chambers B, and by means of which said chambers or niches communicate with the well D of the stand, filled with a sponge, E, on which to wipe thepens.

It will be obvious that in this arrangement of the chambers B and sponge-well D the water poured into the well will rise up and ll the chambers, the water flowing therein through the openings a in the lower edge of the lining;

hence the chambers or niches will be kept fulll so long as the well and sponge are charged with water.

The pens, when not in use, are inserted point downward in the mouth of the `chambers B, thereby immersing them in the water, which will keep the ink left upon the pens from drying thereon, hence they are always in clean condition for immediate use, as the ink will flow therefrom at once, and thus avoid the necessity of inoistening the pen and removing the dry ink therefrom before it can be used after having remained unused for a time; and should the pen need wiping the sponge is conveniently at hand for that purpose, the surface of which above the stand being always charged with water by capillary attraction.

The capacity of the stand for holding water, so as to keep the sponge longer saturated, may be increased by forming around the base of the stand a heavy molding, indicated by the dotted lines a, which being made hollow, communicates directly with the lower end ofthe niches, which, in that case, should reach but part of the way down, and which molding also opens directly into the well D.

This device or stand for holding the pens and the sponge on which they may be wiped is neat `in appearance and convenient in practical use, and which may be used in immediate association with a set of ink-stands, 85e., and made to form an integral part of the set, or it can be used singly as a pen-holder or as a pen-wiper.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The herein-described pen and sponge-holder, consisting of the cup or stand A, having arranged around the inside thereof a series of vertical chambers or niches, B, lining or curb O reaching partially or wholly to the ioor of the well D, and having in the lower edge thereof a series of openings, c, whereby said chambers are put in communication with the well or spongecup D, substantially in the manner as and for the purpose set forth. l SEIH C. GATLIN.

Witnesses:

J. H. BURRIDGE, D. L. HUMPHREY. 

